BCR_Illinois Valley Living - Fall 2023

TOAST OF THE TOWN

Coal Creek Brewing Company grateful for support of the community

ALSO: BLUEBERRY RECIPES YOU’LL WANT TO KEEP CORNER CHAIR MARKET BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO OLD FURNITURE TAKE A DAY TRIP UPON THE SAINTE GENEVIEVE

Finding a moment to relax

Remember when days seemed to last forever when you were a kid? A summer day seemed like it never ended – it was full of promise and yours to do with as you pleased. You might have to do some quick chores for your parents, but then you could determine how the rest of your time went. Even if you had a summer job, there still seemed to be plenty of time for fun.

I don’t know if those lazy summer days happen anymore, whether you’re an adult or a child. Between summer sports schedules, volunteer hours, summer jobs, and cramming school physicals, vaccinations, school supply shopping, and school registrations onto your calendar, it can seem like summer is the busiest season of them all for parents and kids.

While my teens have had some downtime, it seems like they’re mostly on the go. And I know I have been, too. Luckily, my daughter just

received her driver’s license, so some of the chauffeur duties I had been doing are now off my plate. Even still, it seems like I have an enormous amount of work, chores, and errands to fit in every day. I can’t be the only parent out there who feels like this. Every day seems to fly by faster than the last. To help slow things down, I’m trying to be more aware of how I’m spending my limited free time and eliminating things that are filling up my schedule while offering no real reward to me.

In the past few weeks, I’ve spent less and less time on Facebook. And I’ve discovered I really don’t miss it. I log on most days to check messages and notifications. But I give myself a 10-minute time limit, so I don’t get too caught up in Facebook drama only to realize I’ve lost an hour of my day to it. I’ve started to apply this same rule to catching up on daily news – I give myself a short time limit to read the headlines, check

out the articles that most interest me, and pass by the rest of them.

These minor adjustments have helped me feel like the day is a bit longer. I’ve been using the time I’ve saved for more useful things, like taking a few minutes throughout the day to relax. I brew a cup of tea, sit on my deck for a minute, and get lost in my thoughts instead, or I use the time to do something healthy, like taking a short walk or doing a 10-minute weight training session.

Finding a few minutes to relax or practice self-care is feasible for most of us. We just need to make it a true priority.

Best wishes,

Shannon Serpette Niche Editor

Trevin Kennedy (from left), Michael Grieve, and Justin Stange, owners of Coal Creek Brewery in Princeton, sit at the open-air bar area at the brewery.

Finding A New Purpose

Retired LaMoille women refurbish furniture in their new shop

When some people retire, the last thing they want is to spend their time sitting on a couch. They’d rather search for new challenges and projects to work on. Sisters Sharon Sarff and Wanda DeLong, both of LaMoille, decided to take a more active approach to retirement by opening a store, Corner Chair Market, located at 414 South Main St., Princeton.

The sisters decided this was the ideal time to begin a business together.

“I’m not a great retired person,” DeLong said, adding that she likes to stay busy. “I like to do projects. I like to be creative. This was something we’ve always talked about.”

The store opened in April 2023, giving Sarff and DeLong a place to show off their creative talents. The two women repurpose old furniture – something they are well familiar

Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette

Corner Chair Market is owned by sisters Wanda DeLong of LaMoille (center) and Sharon Sarff of LaMoille (right), and they are occasionally assisted by Wanda’s granddaughter Ruby (left).

In

Corner Chair Market, shoppers will find repurposed furniture and plenty of unusual and charming smaller items.

Purpose

FROM PAGE 4

with. Both women began repurposing furniture decades ago as a way to save money after each of them were married.

In their early years of marriage, both DeLong and Sarff were given older pieces of furniture by their parents and grandparents. Sometimes they had to give the furniture some attention to bring it back to life.

“That’s where we learned to refurbish furniture,” Sarff said. “Back then, antiques were valued.”

Still, to this day, both sisters have hardly any new furniture in their homes.

“I find value in the history of it (old furniture),” DeLong said.

Wanda and Sharon both have a real appreciation for the materials and craftsmanship of old furniture.

“The old furniture is well-made,” DeLong said.

With the mid-century modern move-

ment surging in popularity, they hope older furniture will be more sought after. When the sisters come across a piece they want to rehab and sell in their store, they admit they don’t always immediately know what they want to do with it.

“Sometimes we have to look at it for a while,” Sharon said.

DeLong, who worked at LaMoille School District before retiring, and Sarff, a retired sales representative, work well together and enjoy each other’s company. Their business has become a family affair, with DeLong’s 5-year-old granddaughter, Ruby, spending time helping in the shop and input being offered from the sisters’ husbands as well.

“Our husbands are very much involved,” DeLong said.

Both women enjoy unleashing their creativity while making pieces for the store, but the social aspect is also much appreciated, with family stopping by and having the opportunity to meet new customers.

Left: Wanda DeLong (from left) and Sharon Sarff love the opportunity to use power tools in their store workshop while working on projects to rehab and sell. Right/center: Since the owners of Corner Chair Market grew up on a farm, their shop has lots of farm-inspired products to purchase.

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Raise A Glass

Coal Creek Brewing Company celebrates friendship and a sense of community

Photos and Story by Shannon Serpette

When you walk up to the bar at Coal Creek Brewing Company in Princeton, you’ll be doing more than just ordering a great-tasting craft beer. You’ll be supporting a small business that is based on friendship and a deep sense of community.

Three friends and area residents, Justin Stange, Michael Grieve, and Trevin Kennedy, opened Coal Creek Brewery and Taproom at 430 S. Main St. in May 2023. Stange had worked out of state as a brewer, but he had been out of the business for a while since coming back to the area to look after the family farm.

“I needed a break for a while,” he said.

But a return to brewing was always in the back of his mind.

“I felt like Princeton really needed a brewery,” he said.

Stange, Grieve, and Kennedy came up with the concept of opening a brewery that would celebrate the

Beer flowing straight out of the tap at Coal Creek Brewing Company in Princeton.

area’s rural community and heritage, and the trio received the green light from the city. As you enter the brewery, it has a rustic and relaxed feel. While it has appeal for out-of-town tourists, you’ll also see plenty of locals ordering a drink before heading home after a long day.

“We try to keep it family-friendly,” Grieve said.

Since Coal Creek Brewery doesn’t serve food, the owners let their patrons bring some in if they want.

“We allow people to bring in food from local establishments,” Grieve said.

The building the brewery is located in is the ideal place for a business that celebrates the county’s heritage because it has a long history itself. It was built in the 1870s and has seen many generations walk through the doors during its various uses in the past 150 years.

The renovations that took place in the building prior to opening gave Stange, Grieve, and Kennedy another way to show how much supporting

See BEER page 10

Some of the beers served at Coal Creek Brewing Company include Delight (from left), Witbier, Buck Fever, and Captain Swift.

Coal Creek Brewing Company offers various beers for customers, including some with historical names from the county, like Captain Swift.

Beer

FROM PAGE 9

and honoring the community means to them.

“Almost all of the renovations were done by local contractors,” Grieve said.

Since the three men all have jobs other than the brewery, getting everything done before their grand opening was a challenge.

“It came down to how quickly we could work,” Kennedy said.

While a busy schedule can feel overwhelming to some people, the trio were fueled by their passion for the project.

“As we got closer (to opening), the excitement made us work harder,” Stange added.

The opening proved to be a success, and the owners learned a lot about how to run their business in the first days and weeks of operation.

“It was a little overwhelming. We planned for success, and I’m glad that we did,” Stange said. “We take it very seriously. It’s a nice, humble brewery where we’re making beers we like to drink.”

Throughout this process, Stange, Grieve, and Kennedy have learned they work well together, which can be difficult when a business has multiple

The Inside Scoop

Need a recommendation of which beer to try first? Although they are proud of every beer they produce, the owners of Coal Creek Brewing Company share which drink is their favorite on the menu.

Justin Stange: Homestead Lager

Michael Grieve: Captain Swift or Witbier

Trevin Kennedy: Homestead Lager

owners.

“We all three care about each other, and everybody brings something to the table,” Grieve said.

Stange brings a lot of brewing experience and passion.

“Trevin and I know nothing about brewing,” Grieve said, adding that they depend heavily upon Stange’s brewing knowledge.

Grieve is a champ at getting things done, according to Kennedy and Stange.

“He’s a workhorse,” Stange said.

Both Stange and Grieve said Kennedy’s analytical mind is a key part of their success.

“He’s the brains,” Stange said.

All three men are grateful to the community and the city for showing so much support to them right from the beginning of their project.

“Thank you to the community. We’ve been very humbled by the support,” Grieve said.

Justin Stange (from left), Trevin Kennedy, and Michael Grieve stand in the Coal Creek Brewing Company’s brewing room.

All Aboard the Sainte Genevieve

By Brandon LaChance

Gentry Nordstrom was having one of the most stressful days of his life. His wife Lindsay had just given birth to their third child, Gemma, so he couldn’t make the journey to bring his new financial endeavor – a paddlewheel boat – home.

For seven days, he called his crew every day to make sure plans and schedules were being kept. On the eighth day, he could tell from his partner Nathan Weiss’ voice that everything was not kosher.

“We bought the boat on December 8, 2021, when it was still in Cincinnati. We had to drive it down the Ohio River, up the Mississippi River, and up the Illinois River to get it to Ottawa,” said Nordstrom, who lives in Ottawa. “It was supposed to be a 17day trip. This is a true paddle wheel boat that moves, at the most, six miles per hour, and if you’re going upstream, it goes slower. We knew it was going to take a while, and we knew it was going to be an adventure.”

The paddlewheel boat didn’t disappoint – the journey to Ottawa proved to be a memorable one.

“It was named Mark Twain when we bought it. We knew we wanted to change the name, but we didn’t know what we wanted the name to be. We were staring down the barrel of a 17day adventure on these rivers, and we figured the boat was going to name itself. We knew something was going to happen or something would pop

up that the boat would name itself,” Nordstrom said.

“Eight days into the trip, as the boat turned to go up the Mississippi River, we ran into some weather-related issues. The boat ultimately got slammed against some rocks on the bank. We didn’t know it immediately, but the rocks actually breached the hull and poked a hole in the boat. We continued to drive through the night. When the sun came up the next morning, it became evident that the boat was taking on water. It was pretty close to sinking if we didn’t act pretty quickly,” he said.

While unfortunate, the incident did lead to the boat’s fitting new name.

“The crew was able to beach the boat on a sandbar in the Mississippi River. We were rescued by a local barge company, and they took us to their quarry, which was in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. They were really hospitable to us,” Nordstrom said.

“We thought, ‘Is this the moment the boat named itself?’ We did some research on Sainte Genevieve. She is actually the patron saint of Paris, and her legend is, at one point, her enemies conspired to drown her in a lake, but they ultimately weren’t successful. When we read that, we knew the boat named itself and she became the Sainte Genevieve.”

Sainte Genevieve was towed from

See BOAT page 14

The Sainte Genevieve, a paddlewheel boat, is shown while docked at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa.

PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE

Boat

FROM PAGE 12

its namesake to St. Louis and stayed through the winter of 2021 and the early part of 2022, while repairs were made to the hull and other work was completed on the boat.

The trip was finally completed on March 12, 2022, when Sainte Genevieve made it to Nordstrom and Weiss in Ottawa. After seven months of gutting and remodeling the riverboat, Sainte Genevieve became operational on October 4, 2022, when it made its first cruise on the Illinois River.

“I’m good friends with Nathan Weiss. He’s the owner of Ottawa

Millwork Co. in Ottawa. He’s always been a fan of riverboats because his father was always working on boats, including the famous Julia Belle Swain. Nathan grew up around boats and fell in love with them at an early age,” Nordstrom said.

“We have a great riverfront in Ottawa. He had the vision, brought the idea to me in the summer of 2021 when the Julia Belle Swain went up for sale in Wisconsin. Nathan didn’t want to get involved on the business side, so he came to me knowing that I was involved in business and that we would make a great partnership,” he said. “After crunching the numbers, we realized the Julia Belle Swain was too expensive and too big of a

project. But I liked the idea and thought if we found the right boat, we could make it work. With Kevin Stier, who is the owner of the riverboat named Twilight in Iowa, and some other friends, we had some guidance, but Nathan and I were starting from scratch. We kind of bootstrapped and figured it out.”

Nordstrom wasn’t extremely excited about having a short 2022 season, October 4 through December 18, but the soft opening has led to excitement about the 2023 season. The 2023 season started May 12 and will run through November with evening cruises on Thursday and Friday, three cruises on Saturday, and two on Sunday.

If there is enough interest,

Illinois’ longest operating lumberyard continues to thrive along Peru’s historic riverfront. Maze Lumber has been providing top quality building materials to Illinois Valley contractors and homeowners for 175 years, still owned by the founding fathers (Maze).

Located in a 15,000-square foot showroom and office, we offer building materials for the modern home as well as a full line of the traditional lumber items used in home building, commercial construction, and industrial applications. Our experienced sales staff takes pride in their ability to provide knowledgeable assistance along with prompt delivery at reasonable prices.

1848-2023

there may be Wednesday night cruises or an additional Friday or Sunday cruise, but for now, the Sainte Genevieve will tour Thursday-Sunday. The various types of cruises, including standard sightseeing, collaboration, dessert, brunch, and dinner cruises, will have different price points.

The Sainte Genevieve trips will go one of two ways. They will either go upriver from downtown Ottawa, past Heritage Harbor and toward Marseilles Lock and Dam, or downriver past Buffalo Rock before turning around and heading back to Ottawa.

During the winter season when the rivers are frozen, Sainte Genevieve will be docked at Heritage Harbor.

“This past winter, we did quite a few events on the boat. We didn’t make a ton of money, but it was nice to bring in a little bit of revenue, get more people on the boat, get more people talking about the boat and excited about the upcoming season,” Nordstrom said.

“We did a concert series during the winter. It’s a closed cabin, so we have a heated cabin. For a winter event, we can get 50-60 people in the cabin of the boat. We also did holiday parties and corporate meetings. We will also do bridal showers, family reunions, and any other type of private event needing a space of 50-60 that offers a unique setting with a full bar on board. We are generally

pretty open on what type of events we’re going to host.”

When some people think of a riverboat, they associate it with gambling.

However, the Sainte Genevieve detours from the riverboat and gambling connection.

“The boat is a true paddlewheel, so it’s a classic riverboat,” Nordstrom said. “We’re really trying to highlight that old, antique-ish feeling with a bit of a modern flair. We’re more focused on the vibe inside the cabin and the views of the river. We’re not going to get involved with the gambling scene. We’re not going to fill the boat with slot machines. It’s more about getting people on the boat and providing a cool experience.”

Berried Treasure

These blueberry recipes are keepers

By Shannon Serpette

With their rare blue color, blueberries stand out when you’re in the produce aisle at your favorite grocery store. But their brilliant color isn’t the only thing that makes them special.

Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and are considered a superfood – a name given to foods with exceptional nutritional value. If you’re only used to using blueberries for desserts like pies and cupcakes, you should also try them in main dishes. These recipes will give you an interesting mix of ways to incorporate more blueberries into your diet.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

INGREDIENTS

1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 pint fresh blueberries

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper liners. Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Whisk vegetable oil, egg, milk, and applesauce together in a separate bowl until smooth, and stir the liquid ingredients into the flour mixture until moistened. Gently stir in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them two-thirds full. Bake muffins for about 20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.

Blueberry, Corn and Feta Salad

INGREDIENTS

8 ears of sweet corn

3 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp fresh chives, minced

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup fresh blueberries

DIRECTIONS

Wash and grill the corn, turning often. When it’s cooked, cut the corn from the cobs and put it in a large bowl.

In another bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, chives, salt, and pepper. Pour over the corn and toss to coat. Gently fold in the feta and blueberries. It can be served immediately or refrigerated.

Blueberry BBQ Sauce

INGREDIENTS

1 sweet onion

3 cloves garlic

2 tsp olive oil

3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

3 Tbsp liquid smoke

2 Tbsp agave nectar

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp molasses

1 Tbsp paprika

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the onions and garlic. Cook until soft. Add the blueberries, liquid smoke, agave nectar, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, molasses, paprika, lemon juice, chili powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes before moving it to a blender and blending until smooth. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and is excellent over chicken.

Mushroom and Blueberry Pot Roast

INGREDIENTS

3-to-4 pound chuck roast

10 Tbsp olive oil, divided

Salt and pepper

2 onions, quartered

1 and 1/2 cups baby carrots

1 cup portobello mushrooms, sliced thick

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cups beef broth

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 cups fresh blueberries

2 Tbsp fresh thyme

2 Tbsp fresh rosemary

DIRECTIONS

Pour two tablespoons of olive oil over the chuck roast and apply salt and pepper generously. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Heat a large, oven-safe pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add two to three tablespoons of olive oil. Slice the baby carrots and quarter the onions. When the oil in the pot is hot, add the onions, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions and put on a plate. Add the carrots into that pot and brown them slightly. Add extra olive oil as

needed, and add the mushrooms and sliced garlic. Continue cooking and stirring everything until the mushrooms start to brown. At that point, remove everything to a plate.

Add a bit more olive oil to the pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for a minute on all sides until evenly browned. Remove the roast and put it on a plate for now.

With the burner still on high, add balsamic vinegar and beef broth to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to remove all the brown bits. Add the tomato sauce and blueberries. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the berries for three to four minutes, and then use the back of your spoon to mash some of the berries.

Place the roast, onion, mushroom, carrots, rosemary, and thyme in the pan you’ll use in the oven, then cover the roast with the berry liquid. If your roast isn’t covered up fully, you may want to add a little additional beef broth.

Place the pan in the oven and let it roast for three to four hours. It’s especially wonderful served with a side of mashed potatoes to soak up some of the gravy.

See more recipes on pages 18 & 19

Lemon Blueberry Bread

INGREDIENTS

1 and 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp lemon zest

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup milk

1 cup blueberries (may use 1.5 cups if desired)

1 Tbsp flour

Lemon Glaze Ingredients

2 Tbsp butter, melted

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan with butter. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, blend together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined.

Slowly add the flour mixture and milk, and stop mixing as soon as it is just combined.

Rinse off the blueberries if using fresh, and toss them in one tablespoon of flour to stop them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf while baking.

Add the flour-coated berries to the batter, stirring gently by hand.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 55 to 65 minutes, using a toothpick to check if the loaf is done.

Cool the bread in the pan for 30 minutes before moving to a cooling rack with a baking sheet underneath it. Make the glaze by whisking together the ingredients, and pour it over the loaf.

INGREDIENTS

Dough for single-crust pie

3 Tbsp flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup water, divided

3/4 cup sugar

6 cups fresh blueberries, divided

1/2 tsp white vinegar

Sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a floured surface, roll the crust to your desired thickness and transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Bake the pie shell according to the directions of the recipe you used or follow the box directions on a store-bought ready-made pie shell. While the shell is cooling, mix flour, salt, and one-third cup of water until smooth. In a large pan, combine sugar, one cup of blueberries, and the rest of the

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water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then stir in the flour mixture. Return to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened, approximately five to six minutes. Stir in

Pour the mixture into the baked pie crust. Refrigerate for at least four hours. It can be served with whipped cream or ice cream.